From the Guidelines
Yes, it is generally safe to administer the Shingrix vaccine to patients being treated with secukinumab (Cosentyx). Shingrix is a non-live recombinant vaccine for preventing shingles, while secukinumab is an IL-17A inhibitor commonly used for conditions like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Since Shingrix is not a live vaccine, it poses minimal risk of causing infection even in immunocompromised patients.
Key Considerations
- Patients on secukinumab can receive Shingrix following the standard two-dose schedule, with doses given 2-6 months apart.
- It's recommended to coordinate the timing of the vaccine with the patient's regular secukinumab dosing schedule if possible, though this is not strictly necessary.
- The vaccine's efficacy may potentially be slightly reduced in patients on immunosuppressive therapy like secukinumab, but the benefits of vaccination against herpes zoster still outweigh this consideration.
- Patients should be informed about possible side effects of Shingrix, which commonly include injection site reactions, muscle pain, fatigue, and headache that typically resolve within 2-3 days.
Evidence Support
The safety and efficacy of Shingrix in immunocompromised patients, including those on biologic therapies like secukinumab, are supported by recent guidelines and studies 1. While specific data on the coadministration of Shingrix with secukinumab may be limited, the general principles of vaccine administration in immunosuppressed patients suggest that non-live vaccines like Shingrix can be safely administered 1.
Administration Guidance
- Shingrix can be administered simultaneously or sequentially with other inactivated vaccines or live vaccines.
- Injectable vaccines that are given concomitantly should be administered at separate anatomic sites.
- Vaccines that are administered at the same time as influenza vaccines that might be more likely to be associated with local injection site reactions should be given in different limbs, if possible.
From the Research
Safety of Administering Shingrix with Secukinumab
- The safety of administering Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) to a patient receiving treatment with secukinumab (Cosentyx) is not directly addressed in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, it is known that secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively neutralizes interleukin-17A, and Shingrix is a nonreplicating vaccine, which suggests that it may be safe to administer to immunocompromised persons, including those taking secukinumab 3.
- A study on the real-world effectiveness of Shingrix found that the vaccine was effective among individuals with autoimmune conditions and those with immunosuppressive conditions, which may include patients taking secukinumab 6.
- Another study discussed the efficacy and safety of secukinumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, but did not address the administration of vaccines like Shingrix 4.
- The provided studies do not report any interactions or safety concerns related to the administration of Shingrix with secukinumab, but it is essential to consult the prescribing information and healthcare professionals for specific guidance 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.